You forgot modern medicine and contraception. Women have only been outliving men in recent times. Males are not built to survive the rigors of pregnancy and childbirth, females are. This extra organ reserve serves women well in our modern era.
Repeated gestations/births take a huge toll upon the body. Outside of war, widowers greatly outnumbered widows until recently. In much of the developing world, this is still the case.
SPONSORED BY:
Why are All the Really Old People Women?
Published Sep 19, 2009
From the magazine issue dated Sep 28, 2009
Email To A Friend
Please fill in the following information and we'll email this link.
SPONSORED BY
Sixty-eight of the 72 known "supercentenarians" (people 110 and older) are female, even though there are more boys than girls born each year. Here's why.
The danger years
The difference between male and female death rates peaks between ages 20 and 24—during which men are six times as likely to be murdered and five times as likely to die of a non-automobile accident.
Toxic testosterone
The hormone increases levels of bad cholesterol (known as LDL) and decreases levels of good cholesterol (HDL), while estrogen does just the opposite.
Gunplay
Whether it's homicide, suicide, or by accident, men are five times more likely to die by firearms than women.
Drop-dead diseases
Fatal conditions like cancer and heart disease are common among men, while women are more likely to suffer from chronic nonfatal conditions such as arthritis, osteoporosis, and autoimmune disorders.
Overwhelming emotions
The tendency to ignore signs of depression and emotional distress may account for the fact that, between the ages of 75 and 79, men are nine times more likely to commit suicide.
© 2009
Discuss